Course Teacher:

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Course Code:
EE-523
Venue:
Computer Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering ,
NED University Karachi.
2nd Lecture’s Outline
2nd Lecture’s Outline
 Instrument Transformer
 Current Transformer
• Magnetizing Curve
• Measuring and Protection CTs
• Burden
• Accuracy Limit Factor
• CT Class Rating ----- IEEE vs. IEC
• Polarity Marking
• Problems
Instrument Transformer
 Instrument Transformer
• CTs and PTs are the eyes and ears of the protective system.
• They extract information from the power system and form an important
link between the high-current /high-voltage power system and the low-
current/ low-voltage protective system.
• CTs and PTs have two important roles to play, namely:
• Electrically isolate the protective relays from the high-voltage power
system for the purpose of safety of the operating personnel.
• Step down the current and voltage to standard values of 1A, 5A, 110 V
so that the design of relays can be standardized irrespective of the actual
primary voltage and current.
Instrument Transformer
Current Transformer
 Current Transformer - Introduction
• CT changes the line current to a low and measureable value.
• The primary winding of a current transformer is connected in series with
the power circuit and the impedance is negligible compared with that of
the power circuit.
• All current transformers used in protection are basically similar in
construction to standard transformers in that they consist of magnetically
coupled primary and secondary windings, wound on a common iron core,
the primary winding being connected in series with the network unlike
voltage transformers.
• They must therefore withstand the networks short-circuit current.
Types of Current Transformer

• There are two types of current transformers:

1. Wound primary type
2. Bar primary type.
Equivalent circuit Current Transformer
•The primary winding of a current
transformer is connected in series with the
power circuit and the impedance is
negligible compared with that of the power
circuit.
•The power system impedance governs
the current passing through the primary
winding of the current transformer. This
condition can be represented by inserting the
load impedance, referred through the turns
ratio, in the input connection of Figure 6.9.
Equivalent circuit Current Transformer

• It can be shown that the transformer can be represented by the

equivalent circuit of Figure 6.1, where all quantities are referred to
the secondary side.

Vs
Equivalent circuit Current Transformer

•The general vector diagram for CT

can be drawn, as shown in Figure 6.10.
•Here it can be seen that IS is not
exactly the replicate of IP.
•Errors arise because of the shunting
of the burden by the exciting impedance.
•This uses a small portion of the
input current for exciting the core,
reducing the current passed to the burden
(relay).
Equivalent circuit Current Transformer
So
IS  I P  Ie
where Ie is dependent on the exciting impedance (Ze) and the secondary e.m.f.
Es,

Secondary EMF is by the equation

ES  I S ( Z S  Z b )
where:
Zs = the self-impedance of the secondary winding, which can generally be
taken as the resistive component Rs only.
Zb = the impedance of the burden= Rb+jXb
Errors of Current Transformer
Current or Ratio Error

This is the difference in magnitude

between IP and IS and is equal to Ir,
the component of Ie which is in
phase with Is.
Current or Ratio Error (cont..)

• A reduction of the secondary winding by one or two turns is often

used to compensate for this.
• For example, in the CT corresponding to Figure, if the nominal turns
ratio is 2:120, removal of one secondary turn would raise the output
by 0.83% leaving the overall current error as -0.37%.
• ---300/5=2/120 ---- 300 x (2/119)=5.042
Current or Ratio Error (cont..)
Phase Error
•Iq, the component of Ie in quadrature
with Is and results in the phase error ϴ.
•The values of the current error and phase
error depend on the phase displacement
between Is and Ie, but neither current nor
phase error can exceed the vectorial error
Ie.
•It will be seen that with a moderately
inductive burden, resulting in Is and Ie
approximately in phase, there will be little
phase error.
Phase Error

The phase angle error is defined as the angular difference between the
secondary phasor reversed and the primary current. From fig. A-4, the
phase angle error is given as
Magnetization curve of Current Transformer
Magnetization curve of Current Transformer

• CTs are also used for measurement purposes. However, the desired
response from measurement CTs under short-circuit conditions
(when the primary current is high) is quite different.
• CT saturates after certain amount of current pass through the CT,
thus it is necessary to understand the magnetization curve of CT
Magnetization curve - Definition

This curve is the best method of determining a CTs performance. It is a graph

of the amount of magnetizing current required to generate an open-circuit
voltage at the terminals of the unit. Due to the non-linearity of the core iron, it
follows the B-H loop characteristic and comprises three regions, namely the
initial region, unsaturated region and saturated region
Magnetization curve of Current Transformer

• By suitable design, the operating point of the measurement CT is

kept near the knee of the excitation characteristic.
• Knee-point voltage: The transition from the unsaturated to the
saturated region of the open-circuit excitation characteristic is a
rather gradual process in most core materials.
• This transition characteristic makes a CT not to produce equivalent
primary current beyond certain point. This transition is defined by
‘knee-point’ voltage in a CT, which decides its accurate working
range.
Magnetization curve of Current Transformer

• Knee-point voltage is generally defined as the voltage at which a

further 10% increase in volts at the secondary side of the CT requires
more than 50% increase in excitation current. For most applications,
it means that current transformers can be considered as
approximately linear up to this point.
• A protective CT is designed to operate much below the knee point
so that it maintains its transformation ratio during high magnitude
short-circuit currents.
Magnetization curve of Current Transformer

• A protection CT is required to faithfully transform the primary

current throughout its entire range from normal load current to short-
circuit current.
• A measurement CT, on the other hand, is designed to saturate at
currents more than around 1.2 times the full-load current, and thus
save the measuring instruments from possible damage.
 Difference in the
response of a
measurement CT and
protective CT.
 CT Performance Analysis
Burden and Magnetizing Curve
 Burden
•The load of a current transformer is called the burden and can be
expressed either as a VA load or as an impedance. In the former case the
VA is taken to be at the CT nominal secondary current.

•For devices burden expressed in VA at specified current or voltage,

the burden impedance Zb = VA/IxI or VxV/VA
•For example, a 5 VA burden on a 1 A transformer would have an
impedance of 5 ohms.
•Similarly a 5 VA burden on a 5 A transformer would have an
impedance of 0.2 ohms.
Burden (cont..)

• All burdens are connected in series and the increase in impedance

increases the burden on the current transformer.
• A current transformer is unloaded if the secondary winding is short-
circuited as under this condition the VA burden is zero because the
voltage is zero.
• The errors of transformation depend on the angle of the burden as
well as its impedance.
Burden

Find out the Burden:

0.27 VA @ 5A = …….. Ohms
2.51 VA @ 15A = …….. Ohms

{
RB

BURDEN in ohms = VA / I²
LB
• A representation of a ring-type current transformer is shown in
Fig. 3.2. If a vector diagram is drawn, Fig. 3.3, then the ratio error,
which is the difference in magnitude of I 1 and I2, and ϴ, the phase
angle error, become apparent.

R2 is the secondary winding resistance, Ie the

magnetising current and Rb and Xb are the burden
resistance and reactance.
Burden and CT magnetic curve

• The primary ampere-turns must equal the sum of the secondary

ampere-turns and the magnetizing ampere-turns.
N1 I 1  N 2 ( I 2  I e )

• In practice Ie is small compared to I2 and is therefore ignored in all

CT calculations with the exception of those concerned with ratio and
phase angle error.
Burden and CT magnetic curve

• The magnetizing current depends on the voltage V 2 which in turn

depends on the product of the secondary current and the impedance
of the burden plus the CT secondary winding resistance. That is, by
Ohm's law,
V2  I 2 ( R2  Rb  jX b )

• The magnetizing current Ie lags V2 by 90.

Burden and CT magnetic curve

• It can be proved that if the burden is

wholly resistive (Xb=0) then the ratio
error would be a minimum and
phase-angle error maximum,
• whereas if the burden was wholly
reactive then the ratio error would be
maximum and the phase-angle error
minimum.

V2  I 2 ( R2  Rb  jX b )
Burden and CT magnetic curve
•Figure 3.4 shows a magnetizing characteristic
for a 100/1A current transformer.
•It has been previously stated that Ie is small
compared to I2 up to and beyond the knee-point of
the characteristic.
•Hence the ratio and phase-angle errors will
also be small. This means that the
primary/secondary current relationship will be
maintained to this point, i.e. where the product 12(R2
+ Rb +jXb) is 120 V
V2  I 2 ( R2  Rb  jX b )
Example: Current Transformer Burden
Let suppose CT winding resistance R2 = 1Ω, Burden Rb+jXb=7.5+j0Ω,
then the linearity in case of previous magnetization curve will be
maintained up to secondary current of
V2 120
I2    14.1A
R2  Rb  jX b 8.5

Or 14.1 x CT rating.
Alternatively if linearity is required up to 20 times of CT rating, then
what should be the maximum secondary load of CT?
V2 120
R2  Rb  jX b    6
I2 20
CT magnetic curve - Test set-up
•Secondary Excitation Method
•Secondary voltage is applied and exciting current is measured
•Voltage / Current are plotted and compared to manufacturer’s information
Test set-up for the CT magnetic curve
•It is necessary to test the
characteristics of a CT before it
is put into operation, since the
results produced by the relays
and meters depend on how well
the CT behaves under normal
and fault conditions.
•Figure 6.20 shows a
simple test connection diagram
that is adopted to find the
magnetic curve of a CT.
 CT Performance Analysis
Burden and Magnetizing Curve
Open Circuited CT
• If the impedance Rb+jXb is very high then the voltage calculated from I 2(R2 +
Rb +jXb) would be very large, well above knee-point value and Ie would
become significantly large in the ampere-turn balance equation NlI1 = N2 (12 +
Ie) and 12 would be reduced.
• All the input ampere-turns will be used as magnetizing ampere-turns and will
drive the current transformer into saturation.
V2  I 2 ( R2  Rb  jX b )
CT rating terminologies
Short Time Factor
•When a current transformer is used in a power system it may be subjected to
fault current many times larger than its primary rating and, therefore, it must be able
to withstand the effects of this current for the time for which it is likely to persist.
•The maximum current which it can carry without mechanical and thermal
damage is expressed as a multiple of its rated current and is known as the 'short-
time factor'.
Short Time Factor (cont..)
•For example, a current transformer of ratio 200/5 which is capable of
withstanding a current of, say, 13 000 A would have a short-time factor of 65. Such
a short-time factor would always be associated with a period of duration of the
current, for example 3 s.
•Smaller currents would be permissible for longer periods the permissible time
increasing as the square of the reduction of current. Larger currents, however, are
not necessarily permissible for any period of time, since electromagnetic forces
have also to be considered.
Rated Short-Time Current
•A current transformer is overloaded while system short-circuit currents are
flowing and will be short-time rated.
•Standard times for which the CT must be able to carry rated short-time
current (STC) are 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 or 3.0 seconds.
•A CT with a particular short-time current/ time rating will carry a lower
current for a longer time in inverse proportion to the square of the ratio of current
values.
•The converse, however, cannot be assumed, and larger current values than the
S.T.C. rating are not permissible for any duration unless justified by a new rating
test to prove the dynamic capability.
Composite Error
•This is defined in IEC 60044-1 as the r.m.s. value of the difference between the
ideal secondary current and the actual secondary current. It includes current and
phase errors and the effects of harmonics in the exciting current.
•The accuracy class of measuring current transformers is shown in Table 6.4.
Accuracy limit factor
•Protection equipment is intended to respond to fault conditions, and is for this
reason required to function at current values above the normal rating. Protection
class current transformers must retain a reasonable accuracy up to the largest
relevant current. This value is known as the ‘Accuracy Limit Current’ and may be
expressed in primary or equivalent secondary terms.
•When a current transformer is used to energies a protective relay it must
maintain its characteristic ratio up to some multiple of its rated current. This
multiple, which depends on the type and characteristics of the protection, may be
10, 20 or some even higher value and is known as the 'Accuracy Limit Factor'.
Or
•The ratio of the accuracy limit current to the rated current is known as the
'accuracy limit factor'.
Accuracy limit factor (cont..)
•The small ratio error introduced by the magnetizing current is often
compensated for in the case of measuring current transformers by slightly
modifying the ratio of primary to secondary turns from the nominal ratio.
•For example, a 100/1 current transformer might have one primary turn and 98
secondary turns so that the transformation ratio would appear to be 100 to 1.02 A,
but when it is used to supply its rated burden the secondary current is reduced from
the above value to about 1 ampere by the magnetizing losses.
CT Class Rating (IEC/IEEE STANDARD)
CT Class Rating ----- IEEE vs IEC
• In today’s business atmosphere, we can no longer consider only the current
transformer standard common in the U.S., principally the IEEE C57.13 standard
for instrument transformers.
• Many multi-national firms now wish to design facilities that can be constructed
in any geographic area, not simply in the U.S. or Canada. Outside North
America, the most common standards for current transformers are the IEC
61869-1 and 61869-2 standards (replacement for the old IEC 60044-series), the
first specifying common characteristics for instrument transformers, and the
second specifying characteristics pertinent to current transformers.
CT Class Rating ----- IEEE vs IEC
• The IEEE and IEC standards developed independently, and the resulting
standards are quite different. However, the fundamental physics underlying
current transformers are the same.
• Here we will discuss the protection accuracy classifications of current
transformers to the two differing standards’ philosophies, and provides an
example of the accuracy of one particular current transformer to both of the
standards.
IEEE C57.13 C-class relaying accuracy calculation
• IEEE defines two fundamental relaying accuracy designations, one headed by a
“C” and the other by a “T” designator.
• The C and T leading designators signify the type of construction of the current
transformers.
• The C designator applies to a current transformer which has fully distributed
secondary windings, and in which the leakage reactance (or, leakage flux in the
core) is very low. In turn, this means that the relaying accuracy can be calculated
(hence, “C for calculations”). Essentially, C relaying accuracy class applies to a
current transformer of the toroidal, bushing or window type, commonly called
donut-type transformers. Another type of current transformer which falls into the
C class is a bar-type current transformer, where the primary conductor passes
through the current transformer window but there is only one primary turn in the
transformer.
IEEE C57.13 C-class relaying accuracy calculation
• The T designator applies to a current transformer in which there is a high
leakage reactance that impacts the relaying accuracy, so that the accuracy must
be determined by test (hence, “T for test”). These types of transformers are
commonly called wound-type CTs, and have multiple primary turns.
• Wound-type CTs are typically applicable only for very low ratios, and these
current transformers have very limited short-circuit strength. As a result, they are
rarely used in modern metal-clad switchgear.
• Since T class accuracy CTs are seldom used today, these will not be discussed
further, except to say that the fundamental meaning of the accuracy class is
similar to that of a C class CT.
IEEE C57.13 C-class relaying accuracy calculation
• The most common relaying accuracy class for current transformers is the C
designation, which requires a maximum limit of ratio error at 20 times rated
primary current of 10 percent.
• The C designation is followed by a number, which is a secondary terminal
voltage that the CT will support while meeting the error limit ( ≤ 10 percent) at
20 times rated primary current e.g. C400, C200.
• In turn, the common secondary terminal voltage classes have a direct link to the
allowable secondary circuit burden on the CT.
IEEE C57.13 C-class relaying accuracy calculation
• The common generic accuracy classes in the standard, with the associated
secondary burdens, are as shown in Table 1.
IEEE C57.13 C-class relaying accuracy calculation
•It will be seen that, with the standard rated secondary current of 5 A, the short-circuit
current of 20 times current would be 100 A, which when multiplied by the burden
impedance in the table, results in the secondary terminal voltage shown.
•For example, with 20 times rated current flowing in a B-4.0 burden, if the accuracy
limit is met, the secondary terminal voltage would be 400 V and the CT accuracy
class is C400.
•In the case of multi-ratio current transformers, the accuracy limits are always based
on the full winding of the current transformer, i.e., the highest available tap. For a
lower tap ratio, the accuracy is determined from the full winding accuracy rating,
multiplied by the ratio of the selected tap to the full winding ratio.
•Hence, for a C400 current transformer with 1200:5 full winding ratio, the accuracy at
the 50 percent tap ratio (600:5 for this example) would be C400 times 0.50 = C200.
 IEEE C57.13 C-class relaying accuracy calculation
•The relaying accuracy class
of a donut-type current transformer
can be determined from the
secondary excitation curve for the
current transformer, available from
the manufacturer.
•An example of a secondary
excitation curve for one of our
current transformer families is
shown in Figure 1. This curve will
be used in the example calculation
of the CT relaying accuracy.
 IEEE C57.13 C-class relaying accuracy calculation
•As an example, consider a 1,200:5 ratio current transformer, as shown in the
curve. For a limit of error current of 10 percent with 20 times rated current flowing,
the error current upper limit would be 10% x 5 A x 20 = 10 A.
•At 10 A secondary excitation current, the voltage from the curve would be
about 340 V.
•For the 1,200:5 ratio, the secondary winding resistance is 0.418 Ω, so the
voltage “lost” in the CT itself due to a secondary current of 100 A would be 0.418 x
100 = 41.8 V.
•So, the relaying accuracy class of this CT would be 340 – 41.8 ~ 298 V. For
conservatism, this unit would be rated at 280 V, or C280. With the discrete classes in
the standard, this would be a C200 current transformer.
 IEC 61869-2 protection (relaying) accuracy classes
•In IEC, the current transformer class of interest to this discussion is the class P
protective current transformer.
•The rated output classes in IEC are 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30, where the number
represents the load output in VA at rated secondary current.
•The preferred accuracy classes are 5P (5 percent maximum error) and 10P (10
percent maximum error).
•Lastly, IEC has an accuracy limit factor (ALF), which indicates the multiples of
rated secondary current at which the accuracy class applies. The typical value of the
ALF is 10, with values of 20 and 30 also available.
•So, the complete accuracy specification for a particular current transformer might
be 20 VA class 5P10, to signify a transformer with less than 5 percent error at 10 times
rated current, with a load output of 20 VA.
 Correspondence between IEC and to IEEE determined
•But, how is some equivalence or correspondence between accuracy requirements
to IEC and to IEEE determined?
•First, the components of the IEC accuracy designations have to be understood.
20 VA class 5P10
•The first element of the IEC designation is the rated output.
•The second element of the IEC designation 5 designates 5 percent allowable error.
•The final element of the IEC designation is the ALF. A designation of 10 indicates
that the accuracy limit applies at 10 times rated current.
 Correspondence between IEC and to IEEE determined
•P
I2R

C400
•ALF is always 20.
•Limiting error of 10 percent
 IEC 61869-2 protection (relaying) accuracy classes
•If these concepts are now converted to the terms used in IEEE, the following is seen:

•The rated output (VA) is equivalent to specifying the secondary burden. The output
power is the square of the rated current times the burden in ohms ( Ω), or for rated current of 5
A, 25 times the burden.
•For an IEEE C57.13 current transformer, the allowable error is always 10 percent.
• However, in IEEE, the secondary burden has a 60-degree impedance angle, whereas in
IEC the secondary burden is purely resistive.
•As a consequence, an IEEE current transformer with a limiting error of 10 percent with
the IEEE burden will have a limiting error of 5 percent with the IEC resistive burden.
Therefore, in IEC terms, the accuracy is a 5P class rather than 10P.
•For an IEEE C57.13 current transformer, the ALF is always 20.
 Generalize CT Class Rating
(IEC/ANSI/IEEE STANDARDS)
CT Class Rating (ANSI/IEEE STANDARD)
The second part of the CT Accuracy Class is a letter that designates the application
for which the CT is rated.
B -- Metering CTs are designated with the letter B. Relaying CTs have several
different letter designations:
C – The CT has low leakage flux. (Accuracy can be calculated before
manufacturing.)
T – The CT can have significant leakage flux. (Accuracy must be determined by
testing at the factory.)
H –The CT accuracy is applicable within the entire range of secondary currents
from 5 to 20 times the nominal CT rating. (Typically wound CTs.)
L – The CT accuracy applies at the maximum rated secondary burden at 20 time
rated only. The ratio accuracy can be up to four times greater than the listed value,
depending on connected burden and fault current. (Typically window, busing, or
bar-type CTs.)
CT Class Rating ----- Examples of Burden Calculations:
Metering CT: The ratio of a 0.3B0.1
means rated Metering CT is accurate to
0.3 percent if the connected secondary
burden of impedance does not exceed 0.1
ohms. Similarly 0.6B8 rated metering-
class CT will operate within 0.6 percent
accuracy if the secondary burden does not
exceed 8.0 ohms.
Relaying (Protection) CT: A 2.5C100
means Relaying CT is accurate within
2.5 percent if the secondary burden is less
than 1.0 ohm (100 volts/100 amperes).
Specification of current transformers
Specification of current transformers
•A method of specifying current transformers for protective purposes is
detailed in BS 3938. In this specification they are defined in terms of rated burden,
accuracy class and accuracy limit.
•Standard values of rated burden are:
2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15 and 30 VA.
•Two accuracy classes are quoted 5P and 10P which gives a composite error at
rated accuracy limit of 5% and 10% respectively.
•Standard accuracy limit factors are:
5, 10, 15, 20 and 30.
•The method of describing a current transformer is as follows:
15 VA, Class 5P20
which means that it is rated for a burden 15 VA and will not have more than
5% error at 20 times rated current.
Specification of current transformers (cont..)
•Measurement ratings are expressed in terms of rated burden and class, for
example 15VA Class 0.5.
•Protection ratings are expressed in terms of rated burden, class, and accuracy
limit factor, for example 10VA Class 10P10.
•The applied burden is the total of instrument and relay burdens. Turns
compensation may well be needed to achieve the measurement performance.
Specification of current transformers (cont..)
•Even though the burden of a protection CT is only a few VA at rated current,
the output required from the CT may be considerable if the accuracy limit factor is
high. For example, with an accuracy limit factor of 30 and a burden of 10VA, the
CT may have to supply 9000VA to the secondary circuit.
S=VI=I2/Z
•Current transformers are often used for the dual duty of measurement and
protection. They will then need to be rated according to a class selected from both
Tables 6.4 and 6.5.
Rated secondary current
•Current transformers are usually designed to have rated secondary currents of
1A or 5A.
•Most burdens will require a definite amount of VA at rated current and
consequently will have an impedance which varies inversely as the square of the
rated current, so that the value of the rated secondary current does not appear to be
important.
Rated secondary current (cont..)
•Many burdens, however, are situated at some distance from the corresponding
current transformers and, as the wire size of the interconnecting leads is usually
large enough to carry the current produced by a current transformer of any
secondary rating, the leads introduce a definite resistance and therefore more burden
at the higher rated currents, e.g. lead resistance of 1 ohm at 1 A corresponds to
1VA; lead resistance of 1 ohms at 5 A corresponds to 25 VA.
•Clearly in all cases where leads may be appreciable there is a great advantage
in using the lower rated current transformer.
•Modern practice favors the use of the 1A secondary windings.
Secondary winding impedance
Secondary winding impedance
•Bearing in mind the high value of secondary current which a protective
current transformer may be required to deliver, it is desirable to make the secondary
winding resistance as low as practicable to limit copper losses and therefore
heating.
•Ring-type current transformers with a single symmetrical primary conductor
and a uniformly distributed secondary winding have negligible secondary reactance.
•In the case of wound primary-type current transformers winding reactance
also occurs, although its precise measurement and definition is a matter of some
difficulty.
Primary windings
•To achieve a reasonable output from a current transformer having a primary
rating of 80 A or less would require a large core area and therefore it is more
economical to increase the primary winding from a single turn to two, three or more
turns. This of course necessitates an increase in secondary turns which increases
knee-point voltage for a given core area.
•The additional primary turns may be attained by passing the primary
conductor through a ring-type transformer a number of times or it may be a
specially constructed transformer with a primary winding.
Polarity Marking of CT
Polarity Marking of CT
• Polarity in a CT is similar to the identification of +ve and –ve
terminals of a battery.
• Polarity is very important when connecting relays, as this will
determine correct operation or not depending on the types of relays.
Polarity Marking of CT (cont..)
• The terminals of CT are marked by P1 and P2 on the primary, and
S1 and S2 on the secondary as per Figure.
• BS 3938 states that at the instant when current is flowing from P1 to
P2 in primary, then current, in secondary must flow from S1 to S2
through the external circuit.
Polarity Marking of CT (cont..)
• Figure 6.21(b) shows the simple testing arrangement for cross-checking the CT
polarity markings at the time of commissioning electrical systems.

• Connect battery –ve terminal to the current transformer P2 primary terminal.

This arrangement will cause current to flow from P1 to P2 when +ve terminal
is connected to P1 until the primary is saturated. If the polarities are correct, a
momentary current will flow from S1 to S2.
Polarity Marking of CT (cont..)
• Connect center zero galvanometer across secondary of the current transformer.
Touch or flick the +ve battery connection to the current transformer P1 primary
terminal. If the polarity of the current transformer is correct, the galvanometer
should flick in the +ve direction.
Problems
Problems: Burden Calculation for 4 wire and 6 wires CT connections
1. The distance between the CTs and the protection relay is 15 metres, 4 mm 2 Cu
conductors in 4-wire connection are used. The burden of the relay input is less than
20 mΩ (5 A input). Calculate the actual burden of the CT at 75°C.
Problems: Burden Calculation for 4 wire and 6 wires CT connections
• If 6-wire connection is used, the total length of the wire, naturally, will be two
times the distance between the CT and the relay. However, in many cases a
common return conductor is used (figure 3.1.1.2-1). Then, instead of
multiplying the distance by two, a factor of 1.2 is typically used. This rule only
applies to the 3-phase connection.
• The factor 1.2 allows for a situation, where up to 20% of the electrical
conductor length, including terminal resistances, uses 6-wire connection and at
least 80% 4-wire connection.
• If, for example, the distance between the CT and the relay is 5 metres the total
length is 2 x 5 m = 10 metre for 6-wire connection, but only 1.2 x 5 m = 6.0
metre when 4-wire connection is used.
Problems: Burden Calculation for 4 wire and 6 wires CT connections
• Solution
Problems: Burden Calculation for 4 wire and 6 wires CT connections
• Solution
Problems: Burden Calculation for 4 wire and 6 wires CT connections
• Solution
Problem: Calculation of the actual accuracy limit factor
Problem: Calculation of the actual accuracy limit factor
The internal secondary coil resistance of the CT is 0.07 Ω, the
secondary burden (including wires and relay) is 0.117 Ω and the CT is
rated 300/5, 5P20, 10 VA. Calculate the actual accuracy limit factor Fa.
Problem: Calculation of the actual accuracy limit factor
Alternative Method:
Questions
5A or 1A CT?
•How is this altered for a current transformer with 1 A rated secondary
current instead of 5 A? In this case, the secondary burden is increased by
a factor of (I5/I1)2 = (5/1)2 = 25. So, for example, a C100 current
transformer with 5 A secondary is rated on the basis of a 1 Ω secondary
burden, whereas a C100 current transformer with 1 A secondary would
be rated on the basis of a 25Ω secondary burden. The VA output in either
case is I2 x burden, or 25 VA for this example.
•The change of rated secondary current also changes the calculation of
the C relay accuracy. Consider the 500:1 CT in the secondary excitation
curve shown in Figure 2.
Questions
• The secondary terminal voltage is determined at 20 times rated secondary
current, or 20 A for a CT with 1 A secondary. An error current of 10 percent
would thus be 2 A.
• The voltage from the curve at 2 A excitation current is about 570 V. The
secondary resistance of the CT is 3.92 Ω. The voltage “lost” in the CT itself is
20 A x 3.92 Ω = 79 V. Therefore, the accuracy class of this current
transformer is 570 – 79 = 491. We rate this current transformer at C400 relay
accuracy.
• The secondary burden for a 1 A current transformer with C400 relaying
accuracy would be 4Ω x (5A/1A)2 = 100 Ω. This illustrates that the relay
accuracy number for current transformers with 1 A secondary is rather
significantly different from that of a similar current transformer with 5 A
secondary. 20 A x 100 Ω = 200 V, excitation at 100x0.01 – 200V